Union County property owners could pay about $124 more per year in taxes if voters approve a bond referendum for a new 500-bed detention center on Nov. 3.

The Union County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution on July 20 to place the General Obligation bond on the general election ballot, according to a county press release. The proposed facility would nearly double the current jail's 264-bed design capacity.

The existing detention center, built in 1994 under a federal court order, regularly operates over capacity. The average daily inmate population hit 280 in March, and county officials told WCNC that numbers climb higher during summer and winter months.

Board Chair Brian Helms said the jail's condition is well documented.

"It's not a question of whether Union County needs a new jail; it becomes a question of what's the more affordable way to make that happen," Helms said in the county's July 22 announcement.

Why the jail is full

Lt. Matthew Winfrey with the Union County Sheriff's Office told WCNC that detention facilities are considered effectively full at about 80% capacity. Inmates cannot always be housed together because classification decisions separate people by criminal history, security risk and mental health needs.

Overcrowding has forced staff to place three inmates in cells designed for fewer. The third sleeps on a 4-inch-thick mattress on the floor.

The jail's GED program was eliminated for lack of space. Winfrey said the facility still offers life-skills instruction through the Safer Communities program but cannot expand.

"We would love to have programming in here … to actually help the individuals in here, but we just don't have the space," Winfrey said.

Several factors are pushing the population higher. Iryna's Law (House Bill 307), which took effect Dec. 1, 2025, eliminated cashless bail for certain violent crimes and repeat offenders. Union County officials said the law has had some impact locally, though less than in other counties. Winfrey pointed to higher bond amounts that make it harder for people to secure release. Court backlogs and delays transferring sentenced inmates to the state Department of Adult Correction are also keeping populations elevated statewide, according to WCNC's reporting.

When the jail is especially full, the county can send inmates to the Cabarrus County Detention Facility but pays a daily fee for each bed used there.

What the bond means for taxpayers

If voters approve the referendum, the county property tax rate could rise by an estimated 3.11 cents per $100 of assessed value. For a home valued at $400,000, that works out to about $124.40 more per year.

County leaders determined that renovating the current jail would cost roughly the same as replacing it. The existing facility has significant mechanical and structural issues and no room for expansion, according to the press release.

The plan also calls for repurposing the administrative building connected to the current jail for staff training and operational support.

North Carolina law requires voter approval before the county can issue General Obligation bonds. GO bonds are backed by the county's credit and taxing authority, which provides the lowest borrowing costs available to local governments, according to the county.

What's next

At its Aug. 17 meeting, the Board of Commissioners approved termination of a professional services agreement for a jail relocking project, according to the meeting agenda. The agenda did not state a reason for the termination.

The bond referendum appears on the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election ballot.